Window glazing and retaining means



March 8, 1966 R. D. EMORY WINDOW GLAZING AND RETAINING MEANS Filed Oct. 18, 1963 /NVENTOR R/cHA/ea Q f/wo/vy MZ/Y United States Patent 3,238,685 WINDOW GLAZING AND RETAINING MEANS Richard D. Emory, Lafayette, Calif., assignor to Pemko Manufacturing Company, Emeryville, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 317,376 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-562) The invention relates to a Window glazing and retaining means or stripping such as used for sealing and retaining a pane of glass or the like in a window frame.

In glazing windows in metal frames, one side of the pane is sealed in the frame by means of a rubber or plastic sealing strip interposed between the marginal portions of the pane and an appropriate shoulder or other backing member provided on the frame. On the other side of the pane there is interposed between the marginal portions thereof and an opposing spaced shoulder or flange, a fillet of putty or a metal molding called a glazing bead or strip which serves to retain the pane in position. The use of putty for such purpose is being largely supplanted by the metal beading or stripping since by contrast the putty will dry out and need repair or replacement after a few years. Then also the metal glazing is far more pleasing in appearance and lends itself to shop-glazing as well as on the spot installation.

Also growing in popularity is the use of hollow window panes which are designed to reduce condensation due to changes in weather conditions, and also to provide greater insulation against heat or cold. This type of window pane, however, is normally very much thicker than the conventional single glass pane and, therefore, considerable difficulty has been met in installing the same in standard window frames since the extra thickness of the pane materially reduces the width of the space reserved for the metal glazing strip. Existing designs of such stripping, as far as known, are inadequate and ill suited for the present purpose, and cannot provide for the ready installation and eifective pane retaining qualities required.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a glazing means of the character described which can be readily fitted into a very narrow glazing space in the frame, will be securely held in the frame but may be removed with special tools, will engage and firmly retain the pane in centered position in the frame, and provide a neat appearing closure for said space to seal it against entry of dirt and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a glazing strip which is so designed that when in operative position, the flexure of one portion of the strip by engagement with the edge of the pane will serve to keep the pane centered and held in position with a firm but resilient pressure.

A further object is to provide a glazing strip of the character described in which practically all portions will be flexed when the strip is in operative position so that with a minimum amount of material a maximum amount of resilient force will be available for engagement of the strip with the glass and frame parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a glazing stripping with the foregoing advantages which can be used without danger of cracking the marginal portions of the glass pane during or after installation.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a 3,238,685 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 ice corner portion of a window showing the bead of the present invention engaging a glass pane in operative position in a window frame.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the glazing bead before engaged with the pane or frame.

The window assembly as illustrated in FIGURE 1, comprises a glazing in the form of a glass window pane 6 which is shown mounted in a window frame 7, the latter being usually formed of extruded metal, and of a design common in the glazing industry. The particular design of frame shown is only one of many conventional styles with which the glazing bead or strip 8 of the present invention may be utilized. Defining the opening 10 of the window are flanges 9 and 11 which form portions of the,

walls of the frame and extend into the opening from opposite edges of a cross member 12. Flange 9 is deeper than flange 11 and is arranged to have applied thereto a coating or tape 13 of rubber or plastic material against which one side 14 of the window pane is adapted to be positioned and sealed. In most instances the flange 9, the sealing tape, etc. 13, and side 14 of the pane will be disposed on the inner side of the wall of the building in which the frame is mounted; however, in other instances the frame will be mounted in a reverse position so that the flange 9 will be at the outer or exposed side of the wall.

The flanges 9 and 11 and cross member 12 extend completely around the frame opening and as will be clear from FIGURE 1, they provide a cavity 16 for the reception of the marginal portions of the pane. Frames of the type with which the present invention is concerned, are made in various standard sizes, and designed to accommodate a relatively thin single pane of glass. Also it is desirable to keep the thickness of the frame to a minimum. Thus, for example, in one of the typical standard frames, the Width of the cavity, that is the distance between the inner surfaces of the flanges, is in the order of about three-fourths of an inch or less. A typical single pane of ordinary glass is commonly about one-eighth of an inch in thickness, whereas a pane of insulated glass ordinarily has a thickness of about one-half inch. Thus when an insulated pane and the weather-sealing tape are contained in the cavity and positioned against the flange 9, there is left between the pane and flange 11 a space of scarcely three-sixteenths of an inch. It is in this narrow space that the glazing bead or strip 8 has to be inserted.

The bead 8 is formed as an elongated strip of sheet material such as of aluminum or other metal or plastic material having the flexibility and other qualities hereinafter set forth. The head is cut or otherwise provided in lengths generally equal with that of the side of the opening on which the strip is to be positioned. In most instances the ends of the sections for adjoining sides of the frame opening will be mitered so as to fit together in angular but smooth continuity.

As illustrated in the drawings, the bead includes inner and outer walls 17 and 18 extending for the length thereof and joined along a common edge in a relatively sharp fold or bend 19. The walls are in general more or less parallel and in relatively close opposed relation to each other, so that they may be fitted into the space aforesaid between the glass pane and flange. Bend 19 is designed for engagement with the opposing side 21 of the pane, and wall 18 is provided along its free edge with a stiffening flange or two 22 which is arranged to seat in a groove 23, formed on the inner side of flange 11 and wall 12. Extending angularly from the free edge of wall 17 in the opposite direction from wall 18 is a leg or wall 24, the free edge 26 of which is hemmed or flanged and arranged for engagement with the edge face 27 of the pane when the bead is operatively disposed in the frame.

The mounting of the glass pane in the frame, where a snap-in type of glazing bead is used, is usually effected at the shop, such practice being called shop glazing as distinguished from a mounting and glazing operation taking place on the spot Where the window is installed and used. Generally the frame is first placed on a floor, or other flat horizontal surface, with the flange 9 at the bottom. A coating of mastic or a strip 13 of rubber or other resilient material as aforesaid is applied to inner side of flange 9 to provide for a weatherproof seal between the glass and the frame. At this time a number of setting blocks (not shown) are positioned on the cross member 12 which will form the lower edge of the Window opening. The pane of appropriate size is then inserted in the opening from the side having flange 11, and the bottom edge face 27 placed in contact with the blocks. At the same time the marginal portions of side 14 of the glass is pressed into sealing engagement with the stripping 13.

The size and thickness of the insulated glass pane is such that a narrow space is left between the marginal edges of the glass and the cross member 12, and between the side 21 and flange 11. Now with the pane mounted in the frame as aforesaid, the sections of the glazing bead may then be inserted into cavity 16 and snapped into position. This is preferably done by pressing the walls 17 and 18 together and inserting the leg or wall 24 into the space between the edge of the glass and cross member 12. The portion of wall 17 adjacent wall 24 will follow into the cavity, and the flanged end will seat in groove 23 to provide a fulcrum or backing for the bead. Wall 24 may be appropriately notched Where required to accommodate the setting blocks.

With the bead thus inserted and released, edge 26 of wall 24 will engage edge face 27 of the pane, edge 22 will seat against flange 11, and bend 19 will engage side 21 of the pane.

As will be clear from FIGURE 1, the design and form of the bead is such that with the glass extended into the frame cavity with the edge spaced from the cross member 12 as aforesaid, wall 24 will by reason of the engagement of edge 26 with edge face 27 of the glass, be flexed from the dotted to the solid line positions shown in the figure. This flexure will be communicated to walls 17 and 18 which due to the seating of flanged end 22 against flange 11 and member 12, both walls 17 and 18 will tend to swing inwardly towrad the glass and thus bend 19 will be pressed into resilient engagement with surface 21 of the glass with a force proportional to the amount of flexure of wall 24. It is important to note that practically all portions of the bead become flexed and contribute to the resilient force impressed on the pane and serve to provide a full cushioning engagement between the bead and both the glass and frame. Also the glazing space between the glass and flange is completely closed and entry of dirt, etc., along bend 19 and between the wall 18 and flange 11 or member 12 is effectively prevented. It is also important to note that since both walls 17 and 18 are approximately parallel to the plane of the glass pane, and the distance between the bend 19 and opposite end of walls 17 and 18 is considerable, not only is a maximum flexure of such walls afforded, but the pressure exerted by bend 19 against the glass will be straight inward and no wedging action will be produced. Wall 24 is also relatively long in transverse section so that it will flex over a considerable area. Preferably the walls 17 and 18 are formed with an intermediate outward offset to insure clearance of the body portion of the walls with opposing surfaces of the pane. Also as will be noted, Wall 13 is longer in transverse section than wall 17 so that wall 24 will be held from contact with cross member 12. Making the wall 18 of a transverse length approximately equal to the distance between edge 26 and flanged end 22 of such wall has provided satisfactory results. It has also been found that constructing the glazing bead of sheet aluminum of .014 inch in thickness of half hard spring temper such as No. 5052 alloy will be suitable for conventional glazing installations.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window glazing and retaining means for insertion in a frame having the marginal portions of a Window pane positioned in a space between opposed flanges of the frame, the pane being positioned in said space in sealed engagement with one flange and spaced from the other flange, a glazing member formed of resilient sheet material having opposed inner and outer walls arranged for insertion between said pane and said last mentioned flange and being spaced from each other at one edge and joined together at the other edge to provide thereat a bend for engaging the side of the pane opposite said later flange, the outer of said walls being longer transversely than the inner and arranged for engagement with said last mentioned flange at the inner side thereof, a Wall extending angularly from the free end of said inner wall in a reverse direction to said outer wall and arranged to resiliently engage the edge face of the pane, said inner wall being spaced from the associated side of the pane except at the bend, said walls being formed and in such relation to each other that when said member is operatively disposed in the frame and engaged with the pane, the flexure of the wall in engagement with the edge face of the pane will force said bend into resilient engagement with the side of the pane.

2. In a window glazing and retaining means for insertion in a frame having the marginal portions of a window pane received in a glazing space between opposed flanges of the frame, the pane being positioned with an edge in said space and having one side of the pane in sealed engagement with one flange and its other side spaced from and opposed to the other flange, a glazing member formed of resilient sheet material and comprising spaced opposed inner and outer walls arranged for insertion between said pane and said last mentioned flange and being separate from each other at one edge and joined together along an edge parallel to said first edge to thereby provide a bend thereat for engaging the last mentioned side of the pane, the outer of said walls being longer transversely than the inner wall and arranged for engagement with the frame within said space at the inner side of said latter flange, a wall of substantially the same transverse length as and extending angularly from the free end of said inner wall in a reverse direction to said outer wall and arranged to resiliently engage the edge face of the pane when the free edge of said outer wall is in engagement with the frame as aforesaid, said walls being formed and arranged in such relation to each other that when said member is operatively disposed in the frame and engaged with the pane, the degree of flexure of the wall in engagement with the edge face of the pane will force said bend into substantially proportionate resilient engagement with the pane, said inner wall and the angular wall extending therefrom being offset between said bend and the free end portion of said angular wall so as to be clear of the pane.

3. In a window glazing and retaining means for insertion in a frame having the marginal portions of a window pane received in a glazing space defined by opposed flanges and a cross member of the frame, one of the sides of the pane being in sealed engagement with one flange and the other side being spaced from the other flange, the edge face of the pane being in confronting relation but spaced from said cross member, a glazing member of resilient sheeting material having inner and outer walls joined together along one edge, and a wall extending angularly from the inner wall, said angular Wall being disposed in the space between the edge face of the pane and said cross member and having its free edge portion engaged with the edge face of the pane, said inner and outer walls extending nearly parallel to the pane andbeing disposed in the space between the pane and the other flange and having their joined edge engaged with the other side of the pane, the entire portion of the walls between the portions in engagement with the other side and edge face of the pane being formed so as to lie completely disengaged from the edge face and other side of the pane; and the relationship between the walls being such that when the glazing member is held in position with the other flange as aforesaid and the free edge of the angular wall and the joined edge of the inner and outer walls are engaged with the edge face and other side of the pane respectively, any variation in pressure exerted by the angular wall against the edge face of the pane will be communicated to the inner and outer walls and provide a corresponding variation in the pressure of engagement thereof with the other side of the pane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Peremi et a1. 189-78 Pearse 20-565 X Leighton.

Menosky 189-78 Blanchard 189-78 Hasbrouck et a1 20-5 6.4 McEvoy et a1. 20-564 Webster 189-78 X France.

15 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

W. E. HEATON. Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A WINDOW GLAZING AND RETAINING MEANS FOR INSERTION IN A FRAME HABING AND MARGINAL PORTIONS OF A WINDOW PANE POSITIONED IN A SPACE BETWEEN OPPOSED FLANGES OF THE FRAME, THE PANE BEING POSITIONED IN SAID SPACE IN SEALED ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE FLANGE AND SPACED FROM THE OTHER FLANGE, A GLAZING MEMBER FORMED OF RESILIENT SHEET MATERIAL HAVING OPPOSED INNER AND OUTER WALLS ARRANGED FOR INSERTION BETWEEN SAID PANE AND SAID LAST MENTIONED FLANGE AND BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AT ONE EDGE AND JOINED TOGETHER AT THE OTHER EDGE TO PROVIDE THEREAT A BEND FOR ENGAGING THE SIDE OF THE PANE OPPOSITE SAID LATER FLANGE, THE OUTER OF SAID WALLS BEING LONGER TRANSVERSELY THAN THE INNER AND ARRANGED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LAST MENTIONED FLANGED AT THE INNER SIDE THEREOF, A WALL EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM THE FREE END OF SAID INNER WALL IN A REVERSE DIRECTION TO SAID OUTER WALL AND ARRANGED TO RESILIENTLY ENGAGE TO EDGE FACE TO THE PANE, SAID INNER WALL BEING SPACED FROM THE ASSOCIATED SIDE OF THE PANE EXCEPT AT THE BEND, SAID WALLS BEING FORMED AND IN SUCH RELATION TO EACH OTHER THAT WHEN SAID MEMBER IS OPERATIVELY DISPOSED IN THE FRAME AND ENGAGED WITH THE PANE, THE FLEXURE OF THE WALL IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EDGE FACE OF THE PANE WILL FORCE SAID BEND INTO RESILIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDE OF THE PANE. 